Mile of Music day 4 notebook: Artists leave their mark on Mile of Music

Aug. 11, 2013

J.C. Brooks closes down fest in style

Sunday afternoon’s performance by J.C. Brooks & the Uptown Sound was designed to be the festival’s closing bash at Houdini Plaza, but Mother Nature had other plans.

Instead, the Chicago funk band moved out of the rain and into Lawrence University’s Stansbury Theater. The energetic five-piece outfit made the best of the imperfect setup and sent Mile of Music into the offseason with one of the most danceable and fun-loving hours of the weekend.

“I’m sweating like Sam Jackson in ‘A Time to Kill’ up here,” frontman J.C. Brooks told the crowd of about 200. Aside from shimmying and grooving about the Stansbury stage, the charismatic Brooks delivered one-liners left and right to the delight of all the “bros and bras.”

While encouraging folks to hang around after the show, Brooks said he “loves pressing the flesh, kissing hands and shaking babies.” Later on, he had the crowd give a round of applause to a young girl who danced in the aisle throughout the show.

The show started 15 minutes late, likely thanks to the change of venue. It didn’t rub anyone the wrong way. After 50 minutes of their funk and soul tunes (including their cover of Wilco’s “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart”), they exited only to be called back to the stage in a rare legitimate encore. Chants of “One more song!” brought them back, and they obliged, extending Mile of Music for a few more minutes.

It was hard not to imagine what J.C. Brooks & the Uptown Sound would have brought to Houdini Plaza and likely a larger audience in the heart of Appleton’s downtown. But even tucked into a dark theater, the boys from the Windy City put a fine exclamation point on the inaugural Mile of Music.

-- Shane Nyman

Artists leave their mark on Mile of Music

The artists lounge inside the Mile of Music headquarters on College Avenue featured a wall-sized yearbook of sorts. Many acts from the weekend’s bill signed a black sheet of paper stretching across a wall, and here’s a sampling of some of the inscriptions:

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“Drove 1400 miles with the bandAwesomeThe Blakes”

“A new beginning for original music in N.E. Wisconsin! Congrats!The Tyme Machines”

“MOM year #1More successful than I could have dreamedOur hometown rocks!Leading the Blind”

“THANK YOU!!-Orange Iguanas”

“There is a buzz on the Ave. & I can’t wait to see the magic next year will bring.Hillary Reynolds”

“Thanks so much Appleton! We had a blast and hope to be back soon.-Mel Flannery Trucking Co.”

“Thanks 4 having us!! Hope to see you soon!California Wives”

“Best thing I’ve ever been a part of. (I’ve been a part of some stupid (expletive) though)Tyler Sjostrom (The Relics)”

“Love youKiss youDon’t forget to write!!XoxoBlue, Seriously”

-- Shane Nyman

Chisel and friends treat VIPs with afternoon show

Though the past few days have been a grand gift to the Appleton community from Cory Chisel, the Mile of Music co-founder treated VIP ticket holders to another treat Sunday afternoon.

In what Chisel introduced as the start of an annual tradition, he brought along a cast of musicians and presented a 50-minute set of songs just for those who invested in the $99 VIP pass.

“We wouldn’t be able to have this festival if it wasn’t for every one of you in this room,” he told the crowd, before beginning the show with a solo rendition of “Pale Blue Dress.” Three members of the Candles (absent: Pete Remm), Nicole Rae, Eric Krueger, Adriel Denae, Travis McNabb and Chase Cohl were seated behind Chisel.

Each musician then took a turn performing a song, including the Candles covering the Grateful Dead’s “Brokedown Palace,” a new song from Denae and Rae doing “8 Feet Tall.”

For those who missed her Saturday set, Cohl’s short and beautiful performance of “Everything Will Be All Right” was a reminder at how much talent was on the Mile of Music lineup and that one can’t possibly take it all in.

For what appeared to be the finale, Chisel called up McNabb -- who drums for Sugarland and previously Better Than Ezra – and joked that his band had won a few Grammy Awards but yet he was being reduced to shaking a peanut jar and stomping a cooler. Nonetheless, the two ran through “Over Jordan” (peanuts a-shakin’ and all) and had the audience of more than 250 clapping along.

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The group took waved goodbye, only to return for an encore performance of “I’ll Fly Away” with Denae on piano and Chisel at the mic. They did their part, the crowd joined in, and it put a lovely cap on a delightful, laid-back acoustic show that played like a Mile of Music mix tape.

-- Shane Nyman

Music fans pack Mill Creek for shows

The audience at Mill Creek Sunday afternoon was more reminiscent of a Saturday night.

Chicago band California Wives took the stage around 2:30 p.m. at the downtown Appleton bar in front of a near-capacity crowd. After the show, they packed the van and played catch with a football in the St. Joseph Church parking lot before heading home to Chicago.

“This festival was awesome,” said California Wives singer Jayson Kramer. “I hope they have us back next year.”

Mill Creek’s earlier show with The Delta Routine and later show with The Family Business were also well attended.

-- Mike Thiel

Rain moves Houdini performances to Lawrence University

After three days of sunshine, Mother Nature has finally come in to alter the Mile of Music plans.

Today’s two performances scheduled for Houdini Plaza - Caroline Smith at 3:30 p.m. and J.C. Brooks & the Uptown Sound at 4:45 p.m. - have been moved to Lawrence University’s Stansbury Theater due to rain.

Mile of Music organizers announced the change on social media just before noon.

The rest of the day’s events, including gigs from California Wives and the Family Business, are held indoors and will still continue as planned.